Oakleaf Activity through May 2007:The below chart shows the residential homes and condos for the end of May 2007.  The top line is active listings, the bar represents Months of Iventory the line that is next to the bottom is New Listings in May and the bottom line shows Units Sold in May. The chart actually shows 516 Active Listings, 13.23 Months of Iventory, 110 New Listings and 39 Sold Listings.  Oakleaf Plantation still shows that it is struggling with the heavy investor activity and builder over production since 2005.  Although the Oakleaf market is better than in Febuary when there were 550 Actives, 22.92 months of Inventory, 138 New Listings and 24 Sold Listings, it will still be a while until the homeowners in Oakleaf will see any appreciation in their community.   For more infor... 06/04/2007

Fairway Ridge at Eagle Harbor is located off Lakeshore Dr. that runs along Doctors Lake. Fairway Ridge is located on a Cul-De-Sac and has 28 homes. Rosewood Homes and Sid Higginbotham are the only 2 builders in there. The homes start at 1900 Sq. Ft and go all the way up to 3679 Sq.ft. The most popular home features 4 bedrooms 3 bathrooms. The pricing starts at $339,900 for a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom.The community features a playground and pond. Some of the homes back up to hole number 15 of the golf course. The community pool is only about a 2 minute drive away. If you like fishing there is a fishing pier about a mile away that goes into Doctors Lake. With Doctor Lake being right off of St. Johns River who knows what you'll be able to catch.www.robertschwabe.com 05/25/2007

The Landry Team Specializes in Oakleaf PlantationYour New HometownInside OakLeaf Plantation, you'll be close to everything when you're close to home. All you expect to find in your hometown will be just steps from your door. OakLeaf Plantation will let you return to a way of life where you and your family are at the center of your community - a place where you will be able to see your children off to one of five planned OakLeaf schools, shop or dine in of two Village Centers, work nearby in new commercial and office space, or visit the public library. And you will be able to do it all without ever leaving your community.Idealy LocatedFlorida's natural splendor sets the stage for your way of life at OakLeaf Plantation, from its location on 6,400 unspoiled acres southwest of Jacksonville ... 05/18/2007

Mortgage and Lending Getting a loan is often the most tedious part of the purchase process, and the point where many deals fall thru. There are many products available and each one will typically have its own price. Your real estate agent will be able to help you find a lender suitable to the property. They will make it clear though that it is up to you to decide which lender is best for you. Mortgage Private mortgage insurance (PMI) Fixed rate loan Adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) Conforming loan Jumbo loan Veteran's administration loan mortgage - a written agreement that is used to create a lien on real property to secure a promissory note that is executed to provide the loan of funds for the purchase or refinance of the property.  private mortgage insurance (PMI) - a form of insurance... 05/03/2007

Contracts The contract is more than a legal document. It usually includes contingencies and deposit schedules so it really forms the framework for your negotiation with the other party. This is another point in the process where your real estate agent will be very important. They not only help with the paperwork, but they will also be able to advise you on negotiating strategies. Real estate sales contract Negotiation Contingency Financing contingency Additional deposit Breach of contract real property sales contract - an agreement to convey title to real property upon satisfaction of specified conditions that does not require conveyance within one year of formation of the contract.  negotiation - the act of bargaining. The process whereby two or more parties communicate their respecti... 05/03/2007

 Pricing a home correctly is crucial in all markets, especially in a down turn market like now.  Many agents will tell you, "days on the market in my area is almost 6 months".  Very true, but how long is the days on the market for SOLD properties?  In most markets it is still between 45-60 days.  So the truth still holds strong, properly priced homes that are well maintained/staged will still sell in a reasonable amount of time. This can be great news for you as a seller....you can realistically sell in less than 60 days! The power of pricing is amazing.  Now, this is when having an agent that is well informed in your market, and honest with you, the sellers, is important. It can help get a SOLD sign on your property.Is pricing a hard conversation in this market? Yes, it is.  It is unco... 04/23/2007

Boy is there a full schedule for Oakleaf Plantation activities lined up. Check them out below.Relay for Life at OakLeaf Plantation - March 23rd & 24thWe are so excited to host the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life here at OakLeaf Plantation. If you've never been to a Relay, here's what you can expect. Teams of 10 to 15 people join together to camp out overnight, have fun and walk around the track to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer. Everyone is invited to participate, young or old. The American Cancer Society will have games, activities, entertainment, food and more! Relay for Life at OakLeaf will commence at 6 p.m. with opening ceremonies. Then, the fun will continue for the next 18 hours, while each team member takes a turn walking the track. The American ... 03/19/2007

Welcome to the world of Orange Park Real Estate.  Many people right now, buyers and sellers alike, are wanting the scoop on the real estate market.  They have a lot of questions too. Like....How to Hire a Real Estate Agent, Why Didn't My Home Sell, What is My House Worth, and Why Should I be Pre-qualified Before Starting My Search, and Where Can I Search The Web for Homes?Now these are all very good questions, and the links by clicking on them give you some great answers.  But I really want to let you know the numbers of the Orange Park Real Estate Market.(Including all of Orange Park, Middleburg and Flemming Islad Area)Homes Currently on The Market:1,483New Listings In March(todate)221Home Listings that Expired in March(todate)110Homes SOLD/Under Contract in March(todate)337(60 closed,... 03/18/2007

Target...Kohls...Home Depot.....O'My!!!Announced on March 5th, 2007 by the Sembler Company(Developers of Oakleaf Town Center), Kohls and Home Depot will be two of the new additions to Oakleaf Town Center. The BEST ONE OF ALL, News to ALL Oakleaf Resinents Ears.....Restaurants!!! Oakleaf residents will soon have another dining option without leaving the area. Please welcome Chilis Bar and Grill to Oakleaf Town Center. Scheduled to open Late 2007With Target opening  on March 11, 2007, much of the "bones" of Oakleaf Town Center are starting to take place.  Roads are in,  parkinglots paved and streetlights are working.  So now the question on everyones mind is "What other stores are going to be in Oakleaf Town Center?"  Well, the official verdict on that isn't in yet, but the rumors state t... 03/14/2007

Pre-Qualification and Pre-ApprovalMany buyers apply for a loan and obtain approval before they find the home they want to buy.  Why?Pre-qualifying will help you in the following ways:      Generally, interest rates are locked in for a set period of time.  You will know in advance exactly what your payments will be on offers you choose to make.       You won't waste time considering homes you cannot afford.Pre-approval will help you in the following ways:      A seller may choose to make concessions if they know that your financing is secured.  You are like a cash buyer, and this may make your offer more competitive.       You can select the best loan package without being under pressure.HOW MUCH CAN YOU AFFORD? There are three key factors to consider:                    The down payment... 03/13/2007

Thinking about listing your home with an agent...or having a go at it For Sale By Owner (FSBO).  Here are six things about selling a home that you need to know. Six Selling Myths Uncovered Myth #1:  You should always price your home high and negotiate down.   Truth:  Pricing too high can be as bad as pricing too low.   If you list too high, you'll miss out on buyers looking in the price range where your home should be.  Offers may not even come in, because buyers who are interested in your home are scared off by the price and won't even take the time to look at it.  By the time you correct the price and list your home at its fair market value, you will have lost that window of opportunity when your home draws the most attention from the public and real estate agents; i.e. the first 30 d... 03/12/2007

Hi Everyone.  I've got a lot of requests for tips on home-buying at a good deal, and how to find that deal. So listen up residents of Jacksonville and Orange Park....here are some important things to remember.  First and Foremost-YES...It is a Buyers Market(sorry sellers, the ball was in your court for a couple of years, time to play fair) **What that means:There is more inventory on the market then their are buyers to buy it.  Average days on the market for a home is running just under 100. Sadly some homes still go up to 180+, and even more arn't selling at all. **How his benefits you as a buyer:You have lots of choices, and room to negotiate.  Many homeowners have already moved on to their new home by month number 4, or they may need to move very soon.  Something common in the Jax ar... 03/11/2007

Oakleaf Town Center Oakleaf Town Center will be located on the corner of Argyle Forest Blvd and Old Middleburg Road.  OakLeaf Town Center will be an open-air shopping center designed to enhance the lifestyle of OakLeaf Plantation residents and the surrounding areas. OakLeaf Town Center will be a shopping and gathering destination offering 860,000 square feet of retailers, must-have services and an array of restaurants and eateries. Lush landscaping and wide comfortable side walks will make the town center a pleasant place to shop and dine and from the main street to regional and community shopping, there will be something to compliment all lifestyles and ages. The high-quality, architectural design of OakLeaf Town Center will be attractive and in keeping with the theme of OakLeaf Planta... 03/11/2007

After months and months of no showings on listings, things seem to be picking up here in North Florida.  We are seeing more homes going in to pending and a whole lot more showings.  YEA!  The sellers and Realtors are finally realizing what the buyers have been telling us for months: that our prices were just too high.  I have been getting price reductions from sellers like crazy, and guess what, it was a the prices that I thought they should be  at the start of the listing.  It seems to me that things are moving, just not at the pace and pricing we had from a year ago.  For those of us who have been in the real estate industry for at least five or even ten years, already knew that it was price that would bring this market to a screaching halt.  People are only willing to pay so much for... 02/02/2007